America’s Whiskey

AMERICA’S Spirit

The Bend Bourbon Bar serving up favorite cocktails

Story by CONNYE GRIFFIN | Photos by AL GRIFFIN & CHARIS PATIRES

Bourbon is America’s whiskey. Distilled from a 51 percent corn mash, aged in charred oak barrels, and bottled at 80-proof, this American spirit is at the heart of favorite cocktails. Many afficionados call for it neat, and in Lake Ozark, they call for the finest at the Bend Bourbon Bar.

The Reineckes, Todd and Becky, recognized the need for an intimate space for pouring and sipping. The vodka wave had crested, Todd noted. He believed America’s historic love for brown whiskeys was the next wave swelling, and he appears to have read the waters well. Bend Bourbon Bar tripled its available space just ahead of Super Bowl Sunday 2022 when the entire bar was booked for private parties.

The Reineckes, Todd and Becky, recognized the need for an intimate space for pouring and sipping. The vodka wave had crested, Todd noted. He believed America’s historic love for brown whiskeys was the next wave swelling, and he appears to have read the waters well. Bend Bourbon Bar tripled its available space just ahead of Super Bowl Sunday 2022 when the entire bar was booked for private parties.

One reason for the bar’s success is the knowledge and experience behind the bar. Owner Todd Reinecke and bartender Mikel Burks know the products and pour what the customers love. High-end products are always in stock. The wine selection consists of 100-point wines, including bottles from Chappellet’s Pritchard Hills vineyard. Fine tequilas and other spirits are on hand as well. A Oaxacan Tequila Old-fashioned is among the most popular cocktails ordered.

The star is, of course, the best bourbons from around the world. Guests will find Old Bardstown from the Willett distillery in Kentucky and a blend of 9-, 11-, and 18-year-old whiskeys in the Murray Hill Club from Joseph Magness.

They may also order a bourbon most rare, one from among the highest of the higher end Kentucky bourbons: a William LaRue Weller from the antique collection produced by the Bufffalo Trace distillery. A pour of Pappy Van Winkle, long considered the finest bourbon in the world, is also available.

One of the Bend Bourbon Bar’s signature cocktails is a classic Old-Fashioned, made with Buffalo Trace. Drawing from recipes dating back to 1806, the glass is smoked first, using apple, cherry, and hickory wood chips in a ceramic bowl. A rocks glass set upside down extinguishes the flames and collects the aromas to blend with bourbon, sweeteners, bitters, a splash of water, and a delicious Luxardo cherry. A wide piece of orange rind, charred and extinguished quickly, is the final touch creating liquid gold.

The bar’s ambience is warm. Fine wood on the walls suggests a hunting lodge. Through the winter’s coldest days, a fireplace emits light and heat. Through the glass, guests can watch the skies ripen with the sun’s vivid rays and fade into starry nights.

Full menu service from the Bend Grill and Bar upstairs is available downstairs. Diners above can also order a signature bar menu item: Tiger Prawn Shrimp served scampi-style. However, the Bend Bourbon Bar’s primary mission is to serve the finest spirits in a cozy, inviting space for those who enjoy sipping and savoring. Many have found exactly what they’ve been looking for at the lake. The Reineckes invite others to follow.

BEND BOURBON BAR 1622 Horseshoe Bend, Lake Ozark | 573-693-1553 Open Tuesday through Saturday, 4-9 p.m. | Available for private bookings.